President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Vice Chancellor, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to welcome you to Moscow once again. I am very pleased to see you.

The Federal Republic of Germany remains one of our most
important trade and economic partners. Unfortunately, our trade balance is
falling. Last year it was minus 35 percent and even more, over minus 40
percent. In the first six months of this year, it was again minus 35.

We are making certain efforts – at least we are trying to on both sides now. We know that the Days of Russia forum took place in Rostock,
which was attended by more than 600 business representatives from both Germany
and Russia. We can see that businesspeople are inclined to develop relations.

In this context, we consider your visit to be very
important. I hope that we will be able to talk and search for ways to solve the problems that we are facing.

Welcome to Moscow.

Vice
Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and EnergySigmar Gabriel (retranslated):
Thank you, Mr President. I am glad that I managed to visit you in Moscow.

As you know, we had already fixed
the date, but in connection with Britain’s decision, Europe is in a predicament. This is why this visit was postponed, and I am glad that we
managed to make it happen. Our delegation includes representatives of the business community. You rightly said that there are interested parties on both
sides: Russian and German entrepreneurs want not only to maintain the existing
cooperation, but also to expand it.

I personally attended the Russian
Economy Days in Rostock and met with the Russian Minister of Industry there. I can say that this interest exists not only in the East of Germany. The entire
economy and all business quarters of Germany are very interested in developing
and expanding all contacts despite the existing crises.

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with a representative of your Government tomorrow. Over 5,000 German
companies are represented here, in the Russian Federation. Therefore, we are
grateful for the opportunity to continue our dialogue.

We are meeting in very difficult
times. We always meet during hard times. I visited the Soviet Union for the first time in 1980, when the West boycotted the Olympic games. It so happens
that I always come here during times of trial.

There are complicated issues related
to Syria and Ukraine. I would be grateful if we could discuss them, especially
the most recent incidents, such as the attack on the humanitarian convoy in Syria. Naturally, this is making the situation much more complicated. I would
be grateful if we could find an opportunity to discuss these issues.

Vladimir
Putin: By all means.

As for the German entrepreneurs who
came this time, we have very many friends in Germany, and despite all the difficulties
arising in politics, our friends remain our friends and we know and feel
this.

Our German friends also know that we
remain their friends. Therefore, I think that relying on this positive
potential, we should seek solutions to all complicated issues. We will find
them eventually, but the sooner the better.